Family Portraits

Family Portraits with Cruver Photography capture a memory that will last a lifetime. With several amazing scenic backdrop locations on the Eastern Pennsylvania, we can certainly find a location that will suite your families agenda. Jim Thorpe, Pocono Mountains, Lock Ridge Park ….the list is endless!

Our pricing is simple, we charge $100 for the session fee which includes one hour of time, after that it’s $50 an hour, rounding to the next half hour. We then provide you with an online gallery to choose the products or digital downloads you wish to purchase. No pushy in person sales, no limits to the number of wardrobe changes. You can order from the convenience of your phone, tablet or computer. We do offer some packages as well for additional savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

We charge an initial $100, which includes 1 hour of shooting time, after that it’s just $50 per hour.

Where do you do your photo sessions?

There are numerous scenic backdrop locations I use in the Eastern Pennsylvania. Share with me your ideas on what you would like and I can give you some ideas from my past experiences.

I know what kind of look I want, but I’m not sure what locations to go to in order to achieve it. Can you suggest options?

Certainly! When we discuss what you want, let me know what you have in mind and I can show you some examples of places I have shot in the past. This will give you an idea of what to expect at that location.

How many people can be included in the photos?

This is another option that I totally leave up to the family. I do not put barriers or limits on who you can have in your photos. These are YOUR family photos so bring who you want. There is no per person fee and it is totally up to you who you include in the photos.

Can I request specific poses to be taken (e.g. grandchildren/grandparents, solo of kids.)

Of course! I want you to be happy and totally satisfied with your photos so pick the poses that you and your family like. Some people like funny poses, some like formals, some enjoy serious and some people just want to wing it and decide when we get on location. Pinterest is a great resource for viewing various poses. I suggest you go on and print the poses that you and your family want. We will make sure we give you a good variety to choose from as well but we always love for our clients to have a selection when it comes to poses.

How many poses are we allowed with our photography session?

With many other photographers, you are charged a certain fee and that pertains to a certain amount of poses. I do things a little different. I encourage my clients to look through the internet and come up with as many as poses as you want that will make you happy. I want you to be happy, satisfied and always retain me as your photographer. Therefore, I do not charge for a certain amount of poses.

Can our pets be a part of our photos?

Absolutely! Pets are part of your family so of course they are welcome to join in the fun! If we are going to utilize the beautiful beaches of Ocean City for beach photos, we must plan your shoot between October 1 through April 1. We do have other places available that we can bring the pets during the peak season. The best part is there is no additional fees or charges to have your pets join in the photos.

If it rains, do you have a studio to shoot at?

I do have a small studio but if you want outdoor photos we will gladly reschedule your session at a more convenient time.

Will these images be posted online or any social networks?

This is totally up to your family. Some people prefer not having their images posted online and I respect their wishes. I always ask if it is ok to share a few photos on our social media page of the family before posting.

How do we go about securing our session?

You may call, email or leave me a message on social media to determine if I am available for your specific date. I strongly encourage you to contact me as early as possible to make sure I am available. In order to reserve the date, there is a $25 deposit that is required. Once we agree on a date, I will email you a digital invoice that you may pay the deposit with a credit card or pay pal.

I paid my deposit for my family photo session and now I need to cancel or change my date. Will I lose my deposit?

Unlike many other photographers, I realize that situations will occur that will cause people to cancel or change their plans. When these incidents happen, most times they are at the spur of the moment and for reasons uncontrollable. In the event that you need to cancel your appointment, I will gladly reschedule your appointment and use any deposit you have made for that future date.

What time of day is best for a portrait session?

The best time to capture photos is late in the evening, about an hour before the sunsets. This is because when you are taking photos, you don’t want the sun to create large shadows and most importantly, I don’t want you squinting. Therefore, we always schedule our sessions 1-2 hours before it gets dark.

How will we know how to pose?

About 90% of the family photo sessions that I do, my wife comes with me. She will help put you in position and show you how to pose to get the best photos.

Will you be taking our photos or will one of your assistants be taking our photos?

I will always be the photographer taking your photos. There are times when I use an assistant, who just so happens to be my wife, but at no time do I ever use an assistant for your family photos. This is a more personable experience and I will always be the one taking your family photos.

How many outfit changes can we have?

You may change as often as you want. We do not limit the time and we never tell people that they can’t change into various outfits.

I prefer black and white images. Will you edit them in color and black and white?

If you prefer black and white images, please let me know before we start the session. There are ways to manipulate the exposure to make sure we get the best composition for black and white images.

How long will it take for my photos to be on the website to be viewed or received?

For most normal photo sessions, your photos will be completed within 72 hours. I make it a priority to get your photos back to you as soon as possible so you can enjoy your photos and share them with your friends and family. At busy times, I tell people expect 1 week turnaround.

What should I/we wear?

This is the most common question I get as a photographer. I always tell people the same thing each and every time I shoot their family photos. It is not necessary for everyone to wear the same exact thing! This is a misconception that has been passed around over the years. I suggest families pick a color scheme and try to stay in the scheme but don’t match exactly. What doesn’t look good is when a family has 10 different colors and 5 different styles. Try to stay consistent. If you visit our Pinterest page, you can see examples of color schemes that I like families to wear.

What days are you available to shoot portrait sessions?

My availability for family portrait sessions are mostly limited to evenings and weekends.

Can I order more prints/products later?

Your photos will remain online and available for purchase on my password protected website for 3 months from the date of the session. If for some reason, you need to purchase an image after that time, contact me and I can make it available to you.

Why is your logo on all the photos? Will the logo be on the prints?

Being in the photography industry, my best form of advertising is people seeing my logo on your images that you share on social media. These images are specifically meant to be shared on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other various forms of social media. When you receive your printed images or products, there is no watermark/logo on the images.

What type of payments do you accept?

Session fees can be paid by Cash, Checks, Money Orders, Credit Card and PayPal. Products can be paid for by debit or credit cards.